Block stacking machine



June 21, 1966 H. M. KAMPERT BLOCK STACKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- H/I'RRY M KAMPERT 6W1} MI 6M1 W flTTOR/VE'YS June 21, 1966 H. M. KAMPERT 3,257,006

BLOCK STACKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1964 a Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,257,006 BLOCK STACKING MACHINE Harry M. Kampert, 326 W. Lake St, Barrington, Ill. Filed Jan. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 338,237 6 Claims. (Cl. 2146) This invention relates to material handling equipment, and more particularly to a new and improved machine for stacking or cubing building blocks or the like.

As is known to those skilled in the material handling art, block stacking machines, often referred to as cubing machines or cubers, have been provided for placing concrete building blocks in an arranged pile which is in the shape of a cube. This pile or cube is often formed on a pallet so that the pile of blocks may be readily handled by a loading device, such as a fork lift truck.

Most of the prior art block stacking machines in use at the present time are of rather elaborate construction, and consequently these machines are expensive to construct and maintain in proper working order. Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a block stacking machine incorporating a new principle of operation which enables the machine to be of simplified construction.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved block stacking machine including a vertically reciprocal tray which cooperates with a vertically reciprocal retaining plate in a manner whereby a tier of blocks formed on the tray may be deposited on a pallet or on apreviously formed tier of blocks by a simple two-step operation.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a new and improved block stacking machine including a vertically reciprocal tray which is also adapted for horizontal reciprocal movement in a slot in a vertically extending retaining plate, the plate being adapted to follow the tray when the latter reciprocates vertically, whereby a tier of blocks formed on the tray may be deposited on a pallet or on a previously formed tier of blocks by a simple two-step operation.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a block stacking machine of the type described which includes pusher bar means for forming a tier of blocks on the tray.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification describing a preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the block stacking machine of this invention showing the same disposed adjacent feed and delivery roller conveyors;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the" block stacking machine;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

' FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 66 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the block stacking machineof this invention will be seen to include a frame, generally designated 10, which includes a base structure consisting of parallel, spaced-apart members 11 and 12 secured together at their opposite ends by cross members 13 and 14. Members 11 and 12 are preferably wide flange structural members. The frame further includes a pair of uprights 16 and 17 having their lower ends mounted to extensions 18 and 19 at opposite ends 3,257,006 Patented June 21, 1966 of cross member 14. The upper ends of uprights 16 and 17 are suitably secured to opposite ends of a cross member 20, member-20 being attached at the mid-point thereof to one end of a brace member comprising an upper horizontally extending portion 21, an arcuate portion 22 and a vertically extending portion 23. Portion 23 is secured at the lower end thereof to cross member 13.

A vertically extending, horizontally elongated retaining plate 25 has its opposite ends secured to sleeves 26 and 27, which sleeves are slidable on respective uprights 16 and 17 thereby adapting the retaining plate for vertical reciprocal movement in a fixed vertical path. Retaining plate 25 includes a straight, horizontally extending slot 29 in the lower portion thereof, slot 29 joining at its opposite ends with a pair of vertically extending slots 30 and 31.

A carriage, generally designated 33, includes a pair of parallel members 34 and 35 secured together at one of their ends by a cross member 36. Member 34 supports a pair of rollers 37 and 38which roll in a guideway defined by the web and flanges of base member 11. In like manner, carriage member 35 supports a pair of rollers 3-9 and 40 at its opposite ends, which rollers roll in a guideway defined by the web and flanges of base member 12. It will be understood that carriage 33 is adapted for horizontal reciprocal movement in a path which is parallel with base members 11 and 12.

Horizontal reciprocal movement is imparted .to the carriage by a hydraulic cylinder arrangement including a cylinder 42 secured at one of its ends in an aperture (not shown) in cross member 13 and a' piston rod 43 having its outer end attached to cross member 36 at the midpoint thereof. Carriage 33 further includes a pair of standards 45 and 46 secured to their lower ends to opposite ends of cross member 36 and braced in parallel spaced relation intermediate their ends by a cross brace 47. Standards 45 and 46 are preferably in the form of channel members having their flanges facing inwardly as best seen in FIG. 5, and the standards are held in spaced-apart relation at their upper ends by a cross brace 48.

A dolly, generally designated 50, includes a vertically extending horizontally elongated plate 51 having the ends thereof tapered as best seen in FIG. 4. A pair of parallel, spaced-apart plates 52 and 53 are secured to one side of plate 51 at right angles thereto, plates 52 and 53 being adapted to extend between respective standards 45 and 46 inclose proximity thereto. Plate 52 supports a pair of rollers 54 and 55 which are adapted to roll in the vertical guideway defined by the web and flanges of standard 45. 'In like manner, plate 53 supports a pair of rollers 56 and 57 which are adapted to roll in a vertical guideway defined by standard 46. It will be understood that dolly 50 is adapted for vertical reciprocal movement relative to carriage 36 by rolling en gagement of rollers 54-57 in standards 45 and 46 of the carriage.

Vertical reciprocal movement is imparted to dolly 50 by means of a hydraulic cylinder 60 having the lower end thereof secured to carriage member 36 by a lug 61, cylinder 60 being secured along a length thereof to brace 47 of the carriage. Cylinder 60 includes a piston rod 62 supporting one or more sprocket wheels 63 at its upper end. A chain 64 has one end thereof secured to plate 51 at the midpoint thereof taken along the leng tr of the results in raising of dolly 50, and actuation of cylinder 60 for retracting piston rod 62 results in lowering of dolly 50.

A tray, generally designated 68, includes a generally rectangular bottom plate 69 and side plates 70 and 71 at two opposite sides of bottom plate 69. Bottom plate 69 is secured at one edge thereof to plate 51 of dolly 50, and corresponding ends of side plates 70 and 71 are secured to respective opposite tapered ends of plate 51. In effect, tray 68 is cantilevered from dolly 50 and is adapted for vertical reciprocal movement along with the dolly. Because of this construction, the edge of bottom plate 69 opposite the edge thereof secured to plate 51 is supported only from plate 69 itself and may be termed a free edge.

Bottom plate 69 is slidable in slot 29 of retaining plate 25, and tray side plates 70 and '71 are slidable in respective slots 30 and 31 of the retaining plate. Accordingly, vertical reciprocal movement of tray 68 brings about corresponding movement of the retaining plate by reason of this engagement between the tray and the retaining plate. Sliding movement of the tray relative to the retaining plate is brought about by horizontal reciprocal movement of carriage 33 which supports the tray via dolly 50. Suitable stop means (not shown) are provided on members 11 and 12 for limiting movement of carriage 33 away from retaining plate 25 to prevent separation of the tray from the slots in the retaining plate.

According to the construction of the block stacking machine thus far described, it will be apparent that horizontal reciprocating movement of tray 68 is brought about by corresponding movement of carriage 33 which is reciprocated by hydraulic cylinder 42. Vertical reciprocating movement of tray 68 relative to the carriage is brougth about by corresponding movement of dolly which is moved by cylinder 60, and this vertical reciprocating movement of the tray causes corresponding movement of the retaining plate by reason of the engagement of the tray in the various slots in the retaining plate.

Actuation of cylinder for retraction of piston rod 62 results in movement of tray 68 from an upper position A, in which the tray is shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, to a lower position B wherein the tray is shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2. Actuation of cylinder 42 for retraction of piston rod 43 provides movement of the tray from position B to position C which is illustrated in phantom lines. Actuation of cylinder 60 for extending piston rod 62 when the tray is in position C brings about raising of the tray to position -D indicated in phantom lines.

Means are provided for forming a tier of building blocks or the like on tray 68 when the latter is disposed in position A. Such means include a pair of parallel, spaced-apart members and 76 which are preferably channels having inwardly facing flanges. Members 75 and 76 are secured at one of their ends to cross member 20. The other ends of members 75 and 76 are maintained in parallel spaced-apart relation by a cross brace 77. Members 75 and 76 are supported intermediate their ends by a cross brace 79, which cross brace is supported at its opposite ends by a pair of posts 80 and 81. The lower ends of posts 80 and 81 may be supported by any suitable means, such as being attached to an angle 82 forming the part of roller conveyor to be referred to hereinbelow.

A U-shaped head member, generally designated 84, (FIG, 6) includes a connecting plate 85 and side plates 86 and 87. Plate 86 supports a pair of horizontally spaced-apart rollers 88 adapted for rolling movement along a trackway defined by the web and flanges of channel 75. In like manner, plate 87 supports a pair of horizontally spaced-apart rollers 89 which are adapted for rolling movement along the trackway defined by the web and flanges of channel 76. A hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement 90 is secured at one of its ends to member 85 at the mid-point thereof, the other end of the piston and cylinder arrangement being secured to a cross bar 90a (FIG. 1) extending between and attached to members 75 and 76.

A pair of depending arms 91 and 92 are secured at their upper ends to plate '85 of head member 84, which arms have their lower ends mounting a vertically extending pusher bar 93 which is disposed in parallel relation with retaining plate 25. It should be apparent that actuation of hydraulic cylinder 90 results in horizontal reciprocal movement of head member 84 and pusher bar 93. Pusher bar 93 is adapted for movement between a position E indicated in solid lines in FIG. 2 to a position F indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 2. It will be understood that the pusher bar is in alignment with the tray for pushing a row of blocks onto the same as will be explained below.

A roller feed conveyor, generally designated 96, is supported from posts 80 and 81 for cooperating with pusher bar 93 for forming a tier of blocks on tray 68 when the latter is in position A. Feed conveyor 96 includes a pair of parallel, spaced-apart, horizontally extending angles 97 and 98 which rotatably support a plurality of juxtaposed rollers 99. Angles 97 and 98 are supported on horizontal edges of a pair of triangular shaped plates 10% and 101, which plates have their vertical edges secured to respective posts 80 and 81. As best seen in FIG. 2, the upper surfaces of rollers 99 lie in a generally horizontal plane which is vertically spaced slightly beneath the lower horizontal edge of pusher bar 93. Actually, conveyor '96 is tilted slightly along the length thereof to provide movement by gravity of building blocks to be conveyed by the conveyor. Suitable stop means, such as a plate 102 cantilevered from post 80 and in alignment with tray side plate 70, is provided for arresting movement of blocks on conveyor 96 in a position wherein the blocks are aligned with tray 68.

A pallet of known design, generally designated 103 and shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2, may be provided for receiving the pile or cube of building blocks to be formed by the block stacking machine of this invention. Pallet 103 may be supported on a delivery conveyor of the roller type which includes angle 82 and an angle 105 rotatably supporting therebetween a plurality of juxtaposed rollers 106. Alternatively, pallet 103 may be supported directly on the ground or another horizontal surface and then moved away after a stack of blocks have been formed on the pallet.

The operation of the block stacking machine of this invention is as follows. A cycle of operation is commenced by moving tray 68 to position A. A number of blocks which are to comprise the first row of a tier of blocks to be formed on tray 68 are allowed to roll in end- -to-end relation or side-by-side relation along conveyor 96 (from left to right as seen in FIG. 1) until the first block of this row abuts stop 102 thereby aligning the row of blocks with the tray and the pusher bar 93 which is in position E. The pusher bar is then moved to position F for sliding the first row of blocks from rollers 99 onto bottom 69 of the tray. As mentioned above the arrangement of the blocks in this first row may be an arrangement with the blocks in end-to-end relation or side-by-side relation, this relationship being controlled by the manner in which the blocks are positioned on conveyor 96.

Pusher bar 93 is moved to position E and the second row of building blocks are allowed to roll along conveyor 96 until they are located adjacent pusher bar 93. The blocks forming this second row of blocks may be in endto-end or side-by-side relation, the only requirement being that the length of the second row of blocks be equal to the first row of blocks. Pusher bar 93 is again moved to position F for sliding the second row of blocks from conveyor rollers 99 to the tray. Engagement of the second row of blocks with the first row of blocks results in sliding of the latter over on the tray to accommodate the second row of blocks. Additional rows of blocks are formed in the manner just described until a complete tier of blocks is formed on tray 68 while the latter is disposed in position A. It will be understood that normally three to five rows of blocks form a tier depending ,of course on the disposition of the blocks, i.e., whether they are inend-to-end or side-by-side relation, and the size of the blocks making up a tier.

After .a complete tier of blocks is formed on the tray when the latter is in position A, tray 68 is lowered to position B wherein bottom 69 of the tray is disposed just above a horizontal surface such as the top of pallet 103. Next, carriage 33 is moved from left to right, as seen in FIG. 2, for sliding or pulling the tray out from under the tier of blocks thereon; This is made possible by theaction of retaining plate 25 which engages the outsides of the first row of blocks and thereby prevents the tier of blocks from moving along with the tray which is being withdrawn from beneath the blocks. After the tray is withdrawn to position C where it is free from the first tier of blocks, the empty tray is raised to position D by means of the dolly, and then the tray is returned to position A by moving the carriage from right to left as seen in FIG. 2.

A second tier of blocks is again formed on tray 68 in the manner in which the first tier of blocks was formed as described above. The arrangement of the blocks in the second and subsequent tiers is such that the axes of certain of the blocks of one tier are at right angles with a common axes of certain of the blocks of an adjacent tier to provide a stack or cube of blocks which holds together effectively during transport. The arrangement of the various blocks forming a tier of blocks is of course controlled by the manner in which the blocks are arranged on conveyor 96. It will be understood that on the average five or so tiers make up a complete stack or cube of blocks.

The second and subsequently formed tiers of blocks are lowered by tray 68 until the latter is disposed just over the upper surface of the first or previously formed tier of blocks. Tray 68 is withdrawn from the tier of blocks thereon in the manner described above for depositing the second or subsequent tier of blocks onto the first or previously formed tier, the retaining plate cooperating with the sliding tray for effecting separation between the tray and the tier of blocks thereon. The empty tray is again moved to position A by movement of the carriage and dolly in the manner described above, and another tier of blocks is formed on tray 68.

The various hydraulic cylinders or other suitable actuating members, are connected to a source of hydraulic ciprocating movement in a vertical path, which plate has a lower horizontally extending edge portion, a carriage, a rectangular tray supported by the carriage for vertical reciprocating movement relative to the carriage between an upper position and a lower position, which tray has a free edge extending generally parallel with said plate, said plate and said tray being adapted for simultaneous vertical movement and said tray being spaced beneath said edge portion a distance less than the height of a block to be stacked, said carriage being supported by the frame for horizontal reciprocating movement relative to said plate for causing corresponding movement of the tray between pressure (not shown) by appropriate hydraulic lines (not shown). The source of hydraulic pressure may be mounted on the frame of the block stacking machine by being secured on members 108 and 109 which are attached to the base assembly of frame 10. The various actuating members of the block stacking machine may be inter-connected in a manner for bringing about a substantially automatic operation of the block stacking machine, the details of such an interconnected arrangement forming no specific part of the present invention.

It should now be appreciated that the unique cooperation between the sliding tray and retaining plate permits the laying of a tier of blocks on a previously formed tier or other horizontal surface by a quick and uncomplicated operation which is in two steps, viz., lowering of the tray followed by sliding of the same through the retaining plate. This feature of the block stacking machine enables the same effectively to stack a number of blocks in cube form without the need for varied and complicated machine components.

While the invention has been shown in but one form it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not to be so limited, but on the contrary it is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. In a block stacking machine, a frame, a vertically extending retaining plate supported by said frame for rea first position wherein said free edge is remote from said edge portion to a second position wherein said free edge is disposed substantially beneath said edge portion, means for moving said tray and separate means for moving said carriage.

2. In a block stacking machine, a frame, a vertically extending retaining plate supported by said frame for reciprocating movement in a fixed vertical path, which plate has a lower horizontally extending edge portion, a carriage, a rectangular tray supported by the carriage at one edge of the tray for vertical reciprocating movement relative to the carriage between an upper position and a lower position, which tray has a free edge opposite said one edge thereof, said plate and said tray being fixed together for simultaneous vertical movement, and said tray being spaced beneath said edge portion a distance less than the height of a block to be stacked, said carriage being supported by the frame for horizontal reciprocating movement in a path normal to said plate for causing corresponding movement of the tray between a first position wherein said free edge is remote from said edge portion to a second position wherein said free edge is disposed substantially beneath said edge portion, means including a pusher bar supported by the frame for forming a tier of blocks on said tray when the latter is at the same time in said upper position and in said first position,

powered means for moving said tray and separate powered means for moving said carriage.

3. In a block stacking machine, a frame, a vertically extending retaining plate supported by said frame for reciprocating movement in a fixed vertical path, which plate has a horizontally extending slot, a carriage, a rectangular tray adapted for slidable movement in said slot and supported by the carriage at one edge of the tray for vertical reciprocating movement between an upper position and a lower position, which tray has a free edge opposite said one edge thereof, said carriage being sup-' ported by the frame for horizontal reciprocating move ment in a path normal to said plate for causing corresponding movement of the tray between a first position wherein said free edge is remote from said slot to a second position wherein said free edge is adjacent said slot, means including a pusher bar supported -by the frame for forming a tier of blocks on said tray when the latter is at the same time in said upper position and in said first position, powered means for moving said tray and separate powered means for moving said carriage.

4. In a block stacking machine, a frame including a pair of spaced-apart uprights, a vertically extending retaining plate having respective opposite ends thereof slidably engaged with said uprights for reciprocating movement of the plate in a fixed vertical path, which plate has a horizontally extending slot, a carriage, a rectangular tray slidable in said slot and supported by the carriage at one edge of the tray for vertical reciprocating movement between an upper position and a lower position whereby corresponding movement is imparted to said plate, which tray has a free edge opposite said one edge thereof, said carriage being supported by the frame for horizontal reciprocating movement in a path normal to said plate for causing corresponding movement of the tray between a first position wherein said free edge is remote from said slot to a second position wherein said free edge is adjacent said slot, means including a pusher bar supported by the frame for forming a tier of blocks on said tray when the latter is at the same time in said upper position and in said first position, powered means for moving said tray and separate powered means for moving said carriage.

5. In a block stacking machine, a frame including a pair of spaced-apart uprights, a vertically extending retaining plate having respective opposite ends thereof slidably engaged with said uprights for reciprocating movement of the plate in a fixed vertical path, which plate has a horizontally extending slot, a carriage having at least one vertically extending standard, a dolly supported by said standard for vertical reciprocating movement between an upper position and a lower position, a rectangular tray supported at one edge thereof by said dolly and slidable in said slot for causing vertical reciprocating movement of the plate upon corresponding movement of the dolly, which tray has a free edge opposite said one edge thereof, said carriage being supported by the frame for horizontal reciprocating movement in a path normal to said plate for causing corresponding movement of the tray between a first position wherein said free edge is remote from said slot to a second position wherein said free edge is adjacent said slot, means including a pusher bar supported by the frame for forming a tier of blocks on said tray when the latter is at the same time in said upper position and in said first position, first powered means on the carriage for moving said dolly and second powered means on the frame for moving said carriage.

6. The block stacking machine according to claim 5 wherein said first and second powered means each include hydraulic cylinders.

No references cited.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

M. TEMIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A BLOCK STACKING MACHINE, A FRAME, A VERTICALLY EXTENDING RETAINING PLATE SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME FOR RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT IN A VERTICAL PATH, WHICH PLATE HAS A LOWER HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING EDGE PORTION, A CARRIAGE, A RECTANGULAR TRAY SUPPORTED BY THE CARRIAGE FOR VERTICAL RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE CARRIAGE BETWEEN AN UPPER POSITION AND A LOWER POSITION, WHICH TRAY HAS A FREE EDGE EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID PLATE, SAID PLATE AND SAID TRAY BEING ADAPTED FOR SIMULTANEOUS VERTICAL MOVEMENT AND SAID TRAY BEING SPACED BENEATH SAID EDGE PORTION A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE HEIGHT OF A BLOCK TO BE STACKED, SAID CARRIAGE BEING SUPPORTED BY THE FRAME FOR HORIZONTAL RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID PLATE FOR CAUSING CORRESPONDING MOVEMENT OF THE TRAY BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN SAID FREE EDGE IS REMOTE FROM SAID EDGE PORTION TO A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN SAID FREE EDGE IS DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY BENEATH SAID EDGE PORTION, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID TRAY AND SEPARATE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CARRIAGE. 